Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-03
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
A Reporter Interviewed by Reporter
He Discloses Interesting Facts.

He Discloses Interesting Facts.
Z. B. Willis. The well-known legislative
| and Court stenographer, who was for many
years connected with the press of this State,
arrived in this city ON Tuesday evening
from New York. Mr. Willis has been for
some time on the staff OF the New YORK
Daily Star, and came out by way OF Panama
| for the purpose of investigating and report
| ing upon some interests on the Isthmus
and in the Central American republics. AS
Mr.. Willis has been travelling extensively
for the past few years, and about year ago
carried out q most successful boom
scheme in Los Angeles county, reporter
of the RECORD UNION concluded that he
would be good subject for an interview
with this result:
Tell me all about where you have been,
what YOU have been doing, where you are
going, what you think of the prospects OF
boom in Central and Northern Cali
fornia-" began the reporter, .
Hold on minute" said Mr.. Wins
you don't mean to tell me that after
spending years in interviewing other people,
| am at last to be made a victim myself.
You do? Well, fire away, only give it to
me little slow on the start until find out
which side of this business am on. Since
| left Southern California last May, L have
been engaged on the New York Star, and
have spent most of my time in that city
ant, at the Eastern watering places. came
around by Panama in order to learn some
thing about the state of affairs on the
Isthmus and in the republics OF Central
America"
did you see anythin of the work on
the Panama Canal"
" L -, 8 =, mn
that it is gigantic under saking, and that
the work is very badly managed on the
whole. Through the courtesy of Samuel
Boyd. the proprietor of the Panama Star and
Herald, and Mr.. Douglas, superintendent
of the American Dredging Company was
enabled to get a very good idea of the work.
A vast sum of money has been spent
there already, large proportion OF II IN
expensive machinery and locomotives.
which are lying in the open air, exposed 10
sun and rain, and being consumed by rust
as fast as possible. A great deal OF work
has been done and | have no doubt that the
canal will ultimately be completed, though
think De Lesseps has set the date of the
opening rather early, unless the work is
pushed with a great deal more vigor than
at present The fact is the American
Dredging Company, of which Mr.. Slavin is
the President, is doing all the work that IS
being done. They have seven improved
dredgers in operation and are excavatlng
rapidly As they get 80 cents per cubic
yard for moving the earth two hundred
feet. you can imagine that they are turn
ing an honest penny over very lively IN
addition to the amusement the work at
fords them. and which was, of course, the
prime object of their organization"
& suppose you were able to get some re-
.,t-1 rf.arr IN
company" queried the reporter cautiously.
Probably but it is long trip down
there, and | was not specially engaged in
collecting information for the RECORD
UNION. know that your intentions are
honorable (your profession is sufficient
guarantee of that and l have keen appre-
citation of the adamantine quality of your
cheek, but don't it strike you that the de-
tails would appear to better advantage for
the first time in the STAR
well, I'll drop that and ask you what
you think of the tendency towards boom
in this section of the State. You have
lived here and in Southern California, and
know the State as well as almost any man
in it,
THAT is very true. During the past six
teen years have been familiar With about
every section of California, and | believe l
am able to form about as correct a judg-
ment of the merits of the diffe cent sections
as any other man.. took an active part in
the so-called boom in los Angeles
county, and sold large amount of prop
eity there for big prices, but l have always
adhered to an opinion formed many years
ago that the Sacramento valleyis the best
locality in the State for all purposes, and
am thoroughly convinced that in time that
fact will be discovered by those seeking in
nd this xuhnla uai low rrill no
rapidly filled with most desir able class of
people. l doubt very much if your boom
will come in the shape it has IN Southern
California, where desert lands have been
cut up in town sites, and the lots sold off
with astounding rapidity and at fabulous
prices. Ny impression is that the boom
that will ultimately make SACRAMENTO a
great city will comme- on the outside.
have sold land in Los Angeleslcoun for
thousand dollars an acre that is no better
in any respect, or for sny purpose, than
lands which can be purchased in this
valley to-day at from forty to fifty
to become known sooner or later and the
immense tracts of fertile land In this vi
cinity will be taken up by people who have
the capital and the energy TO improve
them. Thousands OF acres which are now
used only to produce wheat and barley,
which rarely bring any adequate return to
the. farmer, will be covered with fruit trees
and vines. Then Sacramento's boom will
follow as surely as night follows the day.
I'm speaking thus of the Sacramento
valley, do not wish to be understood as
saying anything against Southern Califor
MIA know it is delightful country,
and admire the vim and energy of the
people down there. Butt think that prices
have reached too high figure for the safe
and profitable investment of money, and
that those who are seeking homes in a
mild climate can do much better in this
valley than in any of the lower counties.
Neither do | claim that those who have
paid high prices for lands in Los Angeles
county have been swindled. They have
got the worth of their money, and in most
cases could sell out for what they have
paid"
Are you going TO remain on this coast?''
asked the reporter.
Yes. l have some Eastern friends who
are going with me to look at lands in this
vicinity, with view to investment. If
they decide to locate know of good
many more who will follow"
Juvenile Opera Company.
Commencing Monday evening next and